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BAMCR'5  EDITION 
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er  Weekly  Allowance 


Price,  15  Cents 


WALTER  fr 

BOSTON 


BY  WALTER  N.  KAKCft  4 


,  50 


THF  AMA70NS  Farce  m  Three  Acts.  Seven  males,  JVe  .teinaies. 
lllC  AJuALUHJ  costumes,  modern;  scenery,  not  difficult  PlayS 
a  full  evening, 

THF  CAR1NFT  M1NISTFR  rarce  to  Four  Act8-  T*™*^™™ 

UC  V/ADlflCl  fflilUOlEK    females.  costumes,  modem  society  : 
sceuety,  three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 


DANDY  DICK  F*rce  ^  T^66  Acts.  Seven  males,  four  females. 
U  AD  111  111  I'll  Co8tumes>  modem  ;  scenery,  two  interiors,  "''.vyt 
two  hours  and  a  half 

THE  ISAV  I  ADII  AITEY  Comedy  in  Four  Acts,  FourmaleP  ten 
IflU  UAI  tUHll  JJUCA  femaleg  costumes,  modern  ;  scenery. 

two  interiors  and  an  exterior.    Plays  a  full  evening, 

Comedy  in  Four  Acts.,  Nine  males,  font 
females>    costumes,  modern  ;  scenery, 
three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

THE  HORRV  HADCE    Comedy  in  Three  Acts,    Ten  males,  five 
UK  nUBBl   HUKMi    females    Cogtumeg,  modern;  scenery  easy. 

Plays  two  hours  and  a  half. 

IRIS    Drama  in  Five  Acts-    Seven  males,  seven  females.    Costumes, 
modern  ;  scenery,  three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 


LADY  ROENTIFDL  Play  ***  Four  Acts-  Eignt  male8'  seven  fe- 

LrAlll    DUULllllUl*  Costumes,  modern;  scenery,  four  in- 


teriors, not  easy     Plays  a  full  evening. 

I  FTTY    Drama  in  F0111  -A-cts  and  an  Epilogue.     Ten  males,  five  fe- 
^  males.    Costumes,  modern  ;  scenery  complicated,    Plays  a 

fur  evening. 


Sent  prepaid  on  receipt  of  price  by 

Walter  fy  I3a6er  &  Company 

No.  5  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Massachusetts 


HER  WEEKLY  ALLOWANCE 


JFarcical  Entertainment  in  ©ne 


BY 

JESSIE  A.IKELLEY 

AUTHOR   OF   "  THE    PEDLERS'    PARADE,"    *<SQUIRE   JUDKIN*S   APPLE   BEE,"    "  MISS 
PRIM'S    KINDERGARTEN,"    "  THK  VILLAGE    POST-OFFICE,"   ETC. 


BOSTON 
WALTER  H.  BAKER  &  CO. 


HER' WEEKLY  ALLOWANCE 


CHARACTERS. 

MRS.  JACK  TEBBITTS    .     .  Who  has  an  allowance. 

CLEANSING  FLUID  AGENT  .  Who  helps  her  economize. 

DOROTHY  FLETCHER      .     .  Who  wants  a  doll  (child). 

PIANO  AGENT Who  saves  a  divorce. 

MRS.  FORD Who  wants  subscriptions. 

FRUIT  PEDLER       ....  Who  plays  a  bunco  game. 

SPECTACLE  AGENT     .     .     .  Who  saves  the  family's  eyesight. 

SUSIE  PEASE Who  sells  soap  (child). 

MRS.  KELLOGG       ....  Who  has  tickets  to  sell. 

BOOK  AGENT Wtw  cultivates  tfie  family's  minds. 

MRS.  BROWN Who  is  soliciting  for  a  turkey  supper. 

PATENT  MEDICINE  PEDLER  Who  saves  Mrs.  Tebbitts'  life. 

CHAIR  PEDLER      ....  Who  makes  the  neighbors  envious. 

BLIND  PEDLER      ....  Who  arouses  Mrs.  Tebbitts'  sympathies. 

ARMENIAN  WOMAN  PEDLER  WJio  is  a  fraud. 

RUG  SELLER      .....  Who  can  sell  Mrs.  Tebbitts  nothing. 


NOTE.  —  The  entertainment  may  be  given  on  any  platform,  with  or  without 
a  curtain.  Arrange  the  stage  as  an  ordinary  sitting-room,  Avith  table,  chairs, 
couch,  etc.  As  given,  it  requires  five  women,  two  little  girls,  and  nine  men, 
although  nearly  all  of  the  men's  parts  can  be  taken  as  well  by  women,  if  desired. 


COPYRIGHT,  1907,  BY  WALTER  H.  BAKER  &  Co. 


HER  WEEKLY  ALLOWANCE       ?   , 

Ui&AMAA  -T^X^^^^p*^ 

rifcT &33ffai^CA 

SCENE.  — r  Of  no  importance,  a  mere  platform  an  sire  ring 
perfectly  well  for  this  entertainment,  so  that  it  bears  the 
few  tables,  chairs  and  other  properties  called  for.  (See 
Note  on  the  opposite  page.) 

MRS.  TEBBITTS  enters  or  is.  diso&v\swdat  rise  of  curtain.     ]v* 


MRS.  TP:BBITTS.  There,  now,  Jack  is  off  to  the 
and  I  told  him  to  take  his  dinner  downtown  so  I  could 
have  the  whole  day  to  clean  house.  He  thought  I  ought 
to  hire  someone  to  do  the  cleaning  for  me,  but  I'm  just 
sick  to  death  of  hired  help,  and  I'll  just  show  him  I  know 
how  to  do  it  myself,  even  if  I  am  a  young  housekeeper ; 
and  besides,  there's  the  thirty-five  dollars  he  gave  me  for 
the  week's  expenses,  and  I  want  to  show  him  at  the  end 
of  the  week  how  much  I  have  saved  out  of  it  and  what  a 
good  financier  his  wife  is.  I've  always  wanted  to  try  the 
allowance  plan,  and  he  has  always  laughed  at  it;  but  last 
night  I  told  him  at  how  much  better  advantage  I  could 
buy,  and  how  much  I  could  s-ive  if  I  had  a  regular  allow- 
ance, so  he  gave  me  this  money  and  told  me  to  go  ahead 
and  try  it.  Here's  my  little  account  book  with  the  pencil 
attached,  and  every  cent  I  spend  I  shall  set  down  at  once. 
People  are  always  laughing  at  a  woman's  accounts,  but  I'll 
just  show  Jack  that  I  am  an  exception.  I  must  get  right 
to  work,  but  first  I  must  put  on  this  big  apron  and  my 
sweeping-cap.  (Goes  to  glass  to  arrange  it.)  There,  that 
looks  quite  coquettish.  I  read  in  the  paper  the  other  day 
that  there  was  no  need  of  looking  untidy  even  if  one  were 
house-cleaning,  and  that's  just  what  I  think.  Let  me  see  ; 
what  do  you  suppose  I  ought  to  do  first?  I  notice  that 


4  HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  ^j 

everything  is  always  upset  when  folks  are  cleaning  house, 
so  I  think  the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  get  everything  down  *f 
and  pile  it  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.     (Begins  piling  upi&\ 
and  disarranging  furniture.)     There,  that  really  looks  like 
house-cleaning,  but   I   wonder  what   I  ought   to  do  next. 
(Knock  at  door.) 

Enter  CLEANSING  FLUID  AGENT./*,       rS^buftSS 


.  f  AGENT.  A1\,;J  see  IJ^ave  arrived  at  just  the  right  time 
—  house-cleaning  ;  just  the  time  you  naed  this  wonderful 
article  J  have  for  sale.  ^  Will  you  allow  me  to  demonstrate 
its  wonderful  cleansing  properties,  madam? 

MRS.  T.  I  am  very  busy  to-day,  as  I  want  to  get  this 
.,v  house  all  cleaned  before  my  husband  gets  home  to-night. 
He's  going  to  take  his  dinner  downtown  so  I  can  have  the 
"whole  day  to  work. 

AGENT.     Then  Fhave  here  just  the  thing  to  help  you 

'  accomplish  your  purpose.     Ordinarily  your  task  would  be 

impossible,  but  with  this  to  help  you  it  will  be  but  child's 

play.     Here,  madam,  I  see  is  a  rug.     Let  me  show  you 

how  quickly  a  few  strokes  of  this  will  make  it  look  like 

.*;  ,-».-    new.     Give  me  a  little  hot  water  please.    (MRS.  TEBBITTS 

^•^  gives  water  in  basin.     AGENT  puts  in  spoonful  of  mixture. 

Takes  rug  and  irijyes  with  cloth.)     Wonderful  stuff,  madam  ; 

this   rug  is  not  only  cleansed,  but  new  ;    saves    you    the 

expense  of  several  dollars  in  getting  a  new  one;  will  clean 

your   last  year's   gown   so   it   cannot   be  told  from   new; 

cleans  anything  in  the  house  —  from  the  finest  material  to 

the  coarsest  —  without  leaving  a  spot,  and  also  restores  the 

original  color  to  any  faded  material.     The  price  of  this 

can,  enough  to  last  one  year,  is  —  I  know  you  will1  be  sur- 

.   -      prised  at  the    extremely  low  price  —  only  three-  dollars, 

madam. 

MRS.  T.  It  seems  very  nice,  but  my  husband  has  just 
begun  giving  me  a  weekly  allowance,  and  I  don't  want  to 
fritter  any  of  it  away.*  I  have  here  my  little  account 
book  for  setting  down  all  my  expenditures,  and  I  want  to 
have  a  snug  little  balance  at  the  end  of  the  week. 

AGENT.  Just  so,  just  so.  I  am  indeed  glad  to  find  a 
woman  of  such  unusual  business  ability,  and  I  am  doubly 


HER  WEEKLY  ALLOWANCE.  o 

pleased  because  I  have  here  just  the  thing  which  will 
enable  you  to  have  that  snug  little  sum  left  at  the  end  of 
the  week.  By  the  use  of  this  you  will  save  all  expense  of 
hiring  help  for  your  house-cleaning,  for  every  carpet  can 
be  very  easily.;  cleansed  on  the  floor  by  simply  going  over 
them  with  a  cloth  wrung  out  of  this  mixture,  and,  as  I 
said  before,  it  will  also  make  old  clothes  look  like  new. 
It  is  a  great  boon  to  housekeepers,  and  you  will  make  the 
mistake  of  your  life,  madam,  if  you  do  not  take  a  can  of  it. 

MRS.  T.  I  did  get  a  big  spot  of  grease  on  my  blue  silk 
dress,  and  it  faded  dreadfully ;  so  I  thought  I'd  have  to 
get  a  new  one.  But  if  this  will  make  it  good  as  new,  I 
"suppose  it  would  be  economy  to  buy  it.'  I  believe.  I  will 
take  a  can.  (Gets  pocketbook  ;  pays  him  three  dollars.) 

AGENT.     Thank  "ou,  madam. 

Exit  AGENT. 

MRS.  T.  Three  dollars  gone.  (Gets  account  book  and 
writes.)  That  leaves  me  thirty-two  dollars.  This  isn't 
doing  my  house-cleaning;  but  no  matter,  it  won't  take  me 
long  now  that  I  have  this  wonderful  preparation.  I  be- 
lieve I'll  just  get  that  blue  silk  dress  out  and  go  over  it 
with  this  stuff  and  make  it  look  like  new ;  then  I'll  fool 
Jack  when  he  conies  home,  make  him  think  I  have  a  new 
dress,  then  happily  surprise  him  by  telling  him  it's  the 
qld  one  I've  fixed  so  I  won't  need  a  new  one.  I  believe 
in  a  wife  helping  her  husband  save  all  she  can.  I'll  get  it 
and  fix  it  right  off.  I'm  d^njj^0  see  now  ^  will  look. 
(Goes  out  and  brings  in  drass^lb  does  look  pretty  faded 
and  dirty^  but  I  guess  this  will  fix  it  all  right.  (Spreads 
skirt  on  QJftn&frubs  spot  vigorously  with  preparation.  Have 
large  white  patch  basted  on  skirt)  I  do  believe  it's  taking 
that  grease  spot  all  out.  I  guess  it's  just  as  that  agent 
said  —  but,  oh,  dear !  it  doesn't  look  as  if  it  were  restoring 
the  original  color.  Why,  I  believe  it  has  all  turned  white 
where  I  rubbed  it !  (Holds  up  skirt,  showing  large  white 
patch)  That  man  was  a  regular  fraud,  and  I'd  just  li 
to  get  hold  of  him.  I'm  afraid  I  shan't  be  able  to  wear  it, 
after  all,  and  there's  three  dollars  of  my  allowance  gone. 
I'll  have  to  be  very  careful  of  the  rest  of  it.  I'm  dread- 


HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE 

fully  tired.  I've  been  working  so  hard  all  the  morning  I 
believe  I'll  sit  down  and  rest  a  few  minutes  and  look  over 
the  new  fashion  book.  The  talks  to  young  housekeepers 
always  say  it  is  much  better  to  rest  a  few  minutes  several 
times  a  day,  and  you  will  feel  so  ref resheoly  ymt  ^ flu  car^ 
more  than  make  up  the  time.  (Sits  do  wnjoeyins  reading. 
Knock  at  door.) 

Enter  CHILD  with  extracts. 


DOROTHY.  Hello,  Mis'  Tebbitts.  Won't  you  buy  some 
extracts  off  of  me  ?  If  I  sell  a  dozen  bottles  I  can  get 
a  big  doll  that  will  open-  and  shut  its  eyes,  and  say 
"mamma"  if  you  push  hard  on  her  chest. 

MHS.  T.     How  many  bottles  have  you  sold,  Dorothy  ? 
DOR.     I've  only  sold  one,    and    I've    tried    most    ev'ry 
house  on  the  street,  and  I  do  want  that  doll  awful. 

MRS.  T.  That's  too  bad.  How  much  is  the  extract  a 
'bottle? 

DOR.  It's  only  thirty-five  cents  a  bottle,  but  the  man 
says  it's  worth  fifty. 

MRS.  T.  I  suppose  I  might  take  some.  It  will  keep, 
and  it  is  always  handy  to  have  plenty  of  those  things  in 
the  house.  I  believe  in  buying  in  large  quantities.  What 
flavors  have  you  ? 

DOR.     They're  all  lemon. 

MRS.  T.     Oh,   dear,  I  don't  believe    Jack  likes  lemon 
very  well,  but  perhaps  he  will  learn  to.     I  will  take  the 
eleven    bottles,    Dorothy,    and    you    can    get    your    doll. 
.(Counts  out  three  dollars  and  eighty-five  cents.) 
'  '    DOR.     Ma  said  you  were  easy,  and  she  guessed  I  could 
-work  you  all  right:  but  I  didn't  s'pose  you  were  quite  so 
"  easy  as  all  that.   (J*tty4*^lKtt<^) 
Exit  DOROTHY 

MRS.  T.  She  didn't  seem  very  grateful ;  but  no  matter, 
it  was  a  good  bargain  for  me.  She  said  they  were  worth 
fifty  cents ;  eleven  fifties  would  be  five  dollar*  and  fifty 
cents,  and  I  only  paid  three  dollars  and  eighty-five  cents, 
so  I  saved  —  Let  me  see,  three  eighty-five  from  five  fifty. 
I'll  have  to  write  it  down.  (Writes  in  book,  subtracting?) 
Five  from  ten  is  five,  eight  from  fourteen  is  six,  three  from 


HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  7 

four  is  one  —  one  dollar  and  sixt}^-five  cents  saved.  That 
helps  out  quite  a  lot  on  that  three  dollars  I  paid  for  that 
cleansing  stuff,  and  I  won't  need  any  extract  for  a  long 
time  if  Jack  will  only  eat  things  flavored  with  lemon.  I 
think  he  will  when  he  knows  how  cheap  I  got  it  and  how 
hard  I  am  trying  to  save.  I  must  go  on  witk-jay. 
ing.  (Bustles  around,  piling  up  more  things.  ^ 
door.) 


y     •  f  fr^ 

Enter  PIANO  AGENT.     Ctrvu^  C<  .  l^fi  &**  '* 


AGENT.  Good  morning,  madam.  Have  you  a  piano  in 
your  home  ? 

MRS.  T.  No  ;  we've  only  been  housekeeping  a  little 
while,  and  have  not  felt  we  could  afford  a  piano,  but  now 
my  husband  has  given  me  a  regular  allowance  and  I  am 
going  to  be  so  systematic  and  saving  that  I  expect  to  save 
enough  to  buy  one  in  a  few  months. 

AGENT.  That  is  just  where  our  plan  conies  in  handy. 
You  say  you  have  a  regular  allowance  ;  now  just  let  me 
put  in  one  of  our  highest  class  pianos  which  we  are  sell- 
ing this  week  at  the  unheard-of  price  of  eight  hundred 
dollars  as  a  special  inducement  to  young  housekeepers  like 
yourself.  You  pay  me  five  dollars  down  and  five  dollars 
each  time  you  get  your  allowance,  and  before  you  know  it 
you  will  have  an  elegant  piano  all  paid  for,  and  a  home 
made  happy  for  your  husband  —  for  what  is  home  without 
music  ?  When  your  husband  comes  home,  tired  from  his 
day's  work,  you  can  play  some  sweet,  oldf  ballads  to  him/ 
I  know  you  play  well  by  the  looks  of  your  little  white 
hands.  You  have  the  real  musician's  hands.  I  presume 
you  have  made  music  almost  a  life  study. 

MRS.  T.  Yes  ;  I  took  a  quarter's  lessons  when  I  was  a 
young  girl,  but  I  am  rather  out  of  practice  now.  I  pre- 
sume it  would  all  come  back  to  me,  and  I  know  Jack 
would  enjoy  it  so  much  ! 

AGENT.  Just  give  me  your  name,  your  street  and  num- 
ber and  the.  first  instalment  of  five  dollars,  and  I'll  have 
the  piano  up  here  the  first  thing  in  the  morning. 

MRS.  T.  I  don't  know  as  I  ought  to  pay  out  five  dollars 
more  just  now,  but  I  would  like  to  have  that  piano  if  it's 
such  a  bargain. 


8  HER    WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE. 

AGENT.  It's  the  opportunity  of  a  lifetime ;  but  not 
only  that,  but  how  many  less  divorces  we  would  hear  of  if 
a  wife  would  soothe  her  husband  with  sweet  music.  You 
never  hear  of  a  divorce  where  there  is  music  in  the  home. 

MRS.  T.  Is  that  so?  Well,  I  do  believe  I'll  have  it. 
I  don't  want  to  run  any  chances  of  Jack  getting  tired  of 
me 'and  wanting  a  divorce,  and  the  piano  won't  really  cost 
him  anything  if  I  pay  for  it  out  of  my  allowance. 

AGENT.  I'm  glad  to  meet  such  a  wise  little  woman ;  I 
wish  there  were  more  like  you.  Now  your  name  and  the 
street  and  number. 

MRS.  T.  Mrs.  John  B.  Tebbitts,  101  Main  St.  (AGENT 
writes.') 

AGENT.  Now  the  five  dollars  and  your  piano  will  be 
here  in  the  morning.  (MRS.  TEBJBITTS  hands  him  money.) 
Thank  you,  madam.  Good  day. 

Exit  AGENT. 


MRS.  T.  (writing  in  book).  On  account  piano,  five  dol- 
lars. Let  me  see  how  much  I  have  spent  now.  Cleansing 
fluid,  $3,  lemon  extract,  $3.85,  piano,  $5  — total,  $11.85; 
which  leaves  me  (subtracting},  five  from  ten  is  five,  eight 
from  nine  is  one,  one' from  four  is  three,  one  from  three  is 
two  —  twenty-three  dollars  and  fifteen  cents.  (Knock  at 

door.)  +— T"~^t/ 

Enter  MRS.  FORD.  CrtMl  IbWk* 

MRS.  FORD.  Good  morning,  Mrs.  Tebbitts.  You're 
right  into  house-cleaning,  I  see.  You  don't  mean  to  say 
you  do  it  all  yourself,  Mrs.  Tebbitts  ? 

MRS.  T.  Yes ;  I'm  going  to  this  year.  By  going  at  it 
the  right  way  it  will  be  very  easy  and  save  quite  an 
expense. 

MRS.  F.  I  mustn't  stay  but  a  minute,  then,  for  I  know 
you  are  in  a  hurry  to  get  at  it,  but  perhaps  it  will  do  you 
good  to  rest  a  few  minutes.  You'll  be  surprised  when 
I  tell  you  rny  errand.  I'm  taking  subscriptions  for  this 
magazine ;  something  I  never  did  before,  and  of  course 
there's  no  need  of  my  doing  it  now,  for  Mr.  Ford  always 
gives  me  plenty  of  money  for  everything  I  want.  But  I 


.        HER  WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  0 

was  looking  at  the  elegant  premiums  they  give  for  such  a 
few  new  subscribers,  and  I  thought  this  cut-glass  dish 
would  look  just  too  sweet  for  anything  in  that  lovely  new 
mahogany  china-closet  I  have,  so  I  didn't  say  a  word  to 
Tom  about  it,  but  I  just  made  up  my  mind  I  would  start 
out  this  morning  and  ask  a  few  of  my  dearest  friends  if 
they  wouldn't  like  to  take  the  magazine.  Of  course  I 
know  none  of  them  will  refuse  such  a  little  thing,  for  it  is 
only  three  dollars  a  year;  and  even  if  they  didn't  care 
anything  about  the  magazine,  they  would  be  perfectly  will- 
ing to  give  me  the  three  dollars.  I'll  put  your  name  right 
down  for  one,  Mrs.  Tebbitts. 

MRS.  T.  Yes,  indeed,  Mrs.  Ford ;  of  course  I  am  very 
glad  to  do  such  a  little  favor  as  that  for  you.  (Gives  MRS. 
FORD  three  dollars ;  looks  sadly  at  diminishing  amount  in 
pocketbook.)  W^<A.4T"u^vvfcd  **•>  (nftb^f  Jnrff\ 

MRS.  F.  It  was  awfully  nice  of  you  to  take  it,  but  I 
mustn't  detain  you  another  minute.  You  must  come  over 
and  see  how  lovely  that  cut  glass  is  when  I  get  it.  Do 
you  know,  I  asked  Mrs.  Jones,  and  she  was  dreadfully 
rude1  about  it.  She  said  she  thought  it  was  just  as  bad  as 
begging,  and  I  might  as  well  have  a  little  card  printed 
like  the  beggars  and  go  round  poking  it  under  people's 
noses.  But  some  folks  are  so  mean  about  little  things ! 
She  could  afford  to  give,  me  the  three  dollars  just  as  well 
as  not.  Don't  work  too  hard,  Mrs.'  Tebbitts.  Good-bye. 


Exit  MRS.  FORD. 

MRS.  T.  I  didn't  want  her  old  magazine  a  bit,  and  I 
did  need  that  three  dollars.  I  just  agree  with  Mrs.  Jones 
that  it  is  downright  begging ;  but  she'd  never  forgive  me 
if  I  didn't  take  it,  and  she's  acquainted  with  all  those  peo- 
ple I  want  to  get  in  with,  so  I  just  had  to  give  her  that 
three  dollars.  Let  me  see  (consults  book),  three  from 
twenty-three  fifteen  is  twenty  fifteen — almost  half  of  my 
week's  allowance  gone  already.  I  must  hurry  with  my- 
cleaning.  ( IVipes  a  chair  or  two.  Knock  at  door.) 

Enter  FRUIT  PEDLER. 


10  HER   WEEKLY   ALLOW4X 


FRUIT  PEDLER.  LMadam,  can  I  sell  you  some  very  fine 

•V-,  apples?     Every  one  of  them  SOUTH!   and   a  fine  flavor  — 

[y^  !the  very  best  apples  grown  in  the  country  to-day.     They 

are  such  fancy  fruit  that  they  are  usually  four  dollars  a 

bushel,  but  as  this  is  the  last  bushel  I  have  left,  I  will  let 

you  have  them  for  two  dollars  —  a  great  trade,  madam. 

MRS.  T.  I  believe  I  do  need  some  apples.  My  hus- 
band is  very  fond  of  apple  pies.  Will  these  make  good  pies  ? 

FRUIT  PED.     Delicious  I     Can't  be  beat  either  for  cook- 
ing or  eating.     It's  very  seldom  you  get  a  chance  to  buy 
r.       this  particular  kind  of  apple;  they're  scarcer  than  hen's 
,I.     teeth. 

MRS.  T.     I  don't  believe  I  need  more  than  half  a  bushel. 

FRUIT  PED.  Don't  make  the  mistake  of  your  life, 
madam.  This  is  no  ordinary  fruit,  and  I  should  have  to 
charge  you  three  dollars  for  half  a.  bushel,  and  I  will  let 
you  have  the  whole  bushel  for  two  dollars. 

MRS.  T.  Well,  there's  a  chance  to  save  a  whole  dollar, 
and  I  guess  I  need  to  save  it,  for  my  week's  allowance  is 
going  pretty  fast.  I'll  take  the  whole  bushel. 

FRUIT  PED.  Yes.  madam  ;  get  in£  vspmething  to  put 
them  in.  (MRS.  TEBBITTS  gets  basket)  Twfrdollars,  please. 
{Waits  until  he  gets  money;  then  standing  back  to  M 
TEBBJTTS  cmjities  «j>  files  and  departs  hurriedly.} 

MRS.  T.  (examining  apples).  Well,  I  never  !  Every  one 
of  these  apples  is  rotten  —  not  a  sound  one  among  them  ! 
I  thought  he  hurrjed  off  pretty  quick  when  he  got  his 
money.  He  just  had  a  few  of  those  elegant  ones  in  his 
hand  to  show.  Guess  that  was  a  bunco  game,  all  right, 
and  I'll  have  two  dollars  more  to  deduct  from  my  allow- 
ance,  leaving  only  (consulting  booh)  eighteen  dollars  and 
fifteen  cents.  If  I'm  real  careful  I  think  I  can  make  that 
last  for  the  week,  but  I'm  afraid  I  shan't  be  able  to  save 
much.  Oh,  dear,  it's  almost  noontime  and  I  haven't  ac- 
complished  anything.  I  must  hurry  now  to  make  up  for 
lost  time.  (Frantically  begins  pushing  furniture  around.} 
I'll  polish  this  chair  next  with  the  furniture  polish  I 
bough±  La|t(  week.  (Gets  bottle  and  cloth  and  begins  polish- 
ingjft^Ntiw  I  really  am  getting  started  at  the  cleaning. 
Doesn't  that  make  that  chair  look  nice  ?  It's  such  a  satis- 
faction to  do  one's  own  cleaning,  if  you  do  get  dreadfully 


HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  11 

tired.     I  don't  believe  I  shall  ever  hire  it  done  again.     It's 
real  easy  when  you  go  at  it  the  right  way.    (Knock  at  door.) 

Enter  AGENT  with  spectacles. 

AGENT.     Do  any  of  your  family  wear  glasses,  lady  ? 

MRS.  T.  No ;  there  are  only  myself  and  husband,  and 
we  both  have  excellent  eyesight. 

AGENT.  Perhaps  you  think  you  have,  lady ;  but  my 
long  years  of  experience  in  dealing  with  the  human  eye 
enables  me  to  tell  at  a  glance  whether  glasses  are  needed 
or  not,  and  allow  me  to  tell  you,  lady,  unless  you  are  prop- 
erly fitted  with  glasses  at  once  you  will  be  completely 
blind  in  six  months. 

MRS.  T.  Oh,  that  would  be  dreadful !  But  are  you 
sure  of  it  ?  Why,  my  eyes  never  trouble  me,  and  I  never 
have  the  headache. 

AGENT.  Just  allow  me  to  prove  it  to  you,  lad}7.  Here 
I  will  make  a  mark  on  this  piece  of  paper,  so  (makes  an 
extremely  small  dot  on  paper) ;  hold  it  up  at  this  distance 
from  you  (goes  across  stage)  ;  now,  lady,  can  you  see  the 
mark  I  made  ? 

MRS.  T.  (hesitating).     No,  I'm  afraid  I  can't. 

AGENT.  Which  proves  conclusively,  without  any  man- 
ner of  doubt,  that  you  will  be  totally  blind  in  a  few  short 
months  unless  you  allow  me  to  fit  you  with  these  wonder- 
ful glasses  I  am  selling. 

MRS.  T.  I  suppose  I  really  ought  to  buy  them,  but  I 
have  spent  so  much  money  to-day  I  don't  know  as  I  can. 

AGENT.  Madam,  do  not  let  any  false-  notions  of  econ- 
omy deter-  you  from  purchasing  these  glasses.  Think  of 
the  long  years  spent  in  darkness  if  you  neglect  your  eyes 
now. 

MRS.  T.  I'm  sure  Jack  would  rather  have  me  spend 
every  cent  he  ever  had  than  be  blind.  How  much  do  you 
charge  for  the  glasses  ? 

AGENT.  The  regular  price,  lady,  is  twelve  dollars,  but 
as  I  have  a  kind  heart  and  am  trying  to  alleviate  the  suf- 
ferings of  humanity,  I  will  make  the  price  to  you,  lady, 
only  three  dollars.  Goodness  as  its  own  reward,  and 
although  I  shall  be  losing  instead  of  gaining  money  by  the 


12  HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE. 

transaction,  it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  me  to  think  that  I 
have  saved  those  beautiful  eyes. 

MRS.  T.  How  very  kind  of  you !  It  is  a  pleasure  in 
this  sordid  world  to  meet  a  person  who  thinks  more  of  the 
good  done  to  humanity  than  of  mere  dollars  and  cents. 

AGENT.     Are  you  sure  your  husband's  eyes  are  good  ? 

MRS.  T.  Yes ;  I  heard  him  say  only  the  other  day  that 
he  had  unusually  good  eyesight  —  better  than  any  of  his 
companions. 

AGENT.  Indeed,  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it,  for  that  is 
always  the  case — unusually  good  eyesight,  then  sudden 
darkness.  How  many  times  I  have  seen  just  such  occur- 
rences in  my  experience !  Madam,  I  should  feel  very 
much  worried  about  your  husband's  eyes  if  I  were  in  your 
place.  How  old  a  man  is  he  ? 

MRS.  T.     He  will  be  thirty-two  next  June. 

AGENT.  Yes,  just  as  I  thought ;  just  the  age,  the  dan- 
gerous, perilous  age,  the  age  when  a  man's  eyesight  is  apt 
to  leave  him  in  a  second  ;  and  with  the  symptoms  that 
you  tell  me  your  husband  has  —  unusually  good  eyesight 
—  I  should  indeed  feel  alarmed. 

MRS.  T.  Do  you  think  anything  could  be  done  to  pre- 
vent the  trouble  ? 

AGENT.  Undoubtedly,  undoubtedly.  With  a  pair  of 
these  glasses  put  on  immediately  there  would  be  no  danger 
whatever  of  his  eyes  not  remaining  good  indefinitely ;  and 
feeling  great  sympathy  for  you  in  your  trouble,  I  will  let 
you  have  this  pair  for  your  husband  even  cheaper  than 
your  own.  For  the  small  sum  of  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  you  may  save  your  husband's  eyesight. 

MRS.  T.  I  must  take  them  if  it  takes  the  last  cent  I 
have.  How  thankful  Jack  will  be  when  I  tell  him  from 
what  an  awful  fate  I  have  saved  him  !  (Counts  out  four 
and  one-half  dollars  and  pays  AGENT.)  Here  is  your 
money,  and  I  feel  very  grateful  to  you  for  your  'kind  in- 
terest in  myself  and  husband.  5Lx^tiA^^i/fj£(Jxl  t 

AGENT  (aside).  She's  the  easiest  mark  I  have  struck 
for  a  long  time.  (Aloud.)  As  I  said  before,  lady,  virtue 
is  its  own  reward,  and  I  consider  it  a  special  providence 
that  I  stepped  in  here  to-day.  Good  day,  madam. 

"  Exit  AGENT. 


HER   WEEKLY  ALLOWANCE.  13 

MRS.  T.  I  must  put  these  glasses  right  on.  (Puts  on 
glasses)  I  cannot  help  thinking  how  fortunate  it  was  for 
myself  and  Jack  that  he  came,  even  if  it  did  still  further 
lower  the  allowance.  Let  me  see  (consults  book)  ;  eighteen 
dollars  and  fifteen  cents  I  had  before  he  came,  and  I  paid 
him  four  dollars  and  a  half ;  that  leaves  (reckoning)  thir- 
teen dollars  and  sixty-five  cents.  Oh,  dear,  how  money 
does  go,  and  time,  too  !  Let  me  think ;  what  was  I  doing  ? 
Oh,  yes  ;  polishing  this  chair.  (Goes  at  it  again)  What 
had  I  better  do  next?  I  believe  I'll  finish  that  little 
centre-piece  I  was  making  for  the  table.  Of  course  I'll 
want  to  have  that  ready  to  put  on  when  I  get  the  room 
cleaned,  and  there  are  only  a  few  more  stitches  to  take  in 
it.  (Takes  sewing  and  sits  down)  Why,  I  can't  see  a 
thing  with  these  glasses,  and  they  make  my  eyes  ache 
frightfully  !  I  believe  I'll  ask  Jack  about  them  before  I 
wear  them  any  longer.  (Takes  them  off)  It's  real  rest- 
ful to  sit  down  a  few  minutes.  I  believe  I'm  feeling 
rather  tired  doing  so  much  house-cleaning  in  one  day. 
(Knock  at  door) 

Enter  SUSIE  PEA^E. 


How  do  you  do,  Susie  ?     Why  aren't  you  in  school  this 


mornng  ? 

SUSIE.  Mother  let  me  stay  out  this  morning  so's  I 
could  sell  some  soap.  She's  cleaning  house  (guess  you  are 
too  by  the  looks),  and  she  said  she  hated  to  clean  house 
and  not  have  anything  new,  and  she  read  in  the  »paper 
that  Parker's,  out  in  Chicago,  would  give  a  beautiful  chair 
if  you  sell  ten  dollars'  worth  of  soap  ;  so  she's  sending  me 
round  to  "'tlie^'iieigirtfors  -to  see  it'  they'll  buy  some.  The 
chair  is  awful  pretty  in  the  picture.  How  much  will  you 
take,  Mrs.  Tebbitts  ? 

MRS.  T.  I  suppose  I  will  need  quite  a  lot  of  soap  for 
house-cleaning,  and  I  do  like  to  please  a  child.  I'll  take  a 
dollar's  worth,  Susie.  (Gives  dollar) 

SUSIE.  You're  an  awful  nice  lady.  I'll  put  the  order 
down  and  bring  it  to  you  as  soon  as  it  gets  here. 

Exit  SUSIE. 


14  HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE. 

MRS.  T.  (consulting  book).  Thirteen  sixty-five  less  one 
is  twelve  sixty-five.  I  hope  no  one  else  will  come  to-day 
with  anything  to  sell.  I  shan't  buy  another  thing  of  any- 
one. (Knock  at  door.) 

Enter  MRS.  KELLOGG. 

MRS.  KELLOGG.  I'm  so  glad  to  find  you  at  home,  dear 
Mrs.  Tebbitts.  You're  house-cleaning,  aren't  you  ?  Yon 
will  pardon  my  coming  so  early  in  the  day,  but  I  have 
these  tickets  to  sell  for  the  charity  benefit,  and  I  know- 
how  interested  you  always  are  in  anything  pertaining  to 
charitable  work.  I  said  to  my  husband  last  night,  "-I  am 
sure  Mrs.  Tebbitts  will  buy  at  least  four  of  these  tickets, 
because  they  are  only  fifty  cents  apiece,  and  if  there  are 
only  herself  and  her  husband  in  the  family,  she  can  give 
the  other  two  to  some  of  her  friends;  or  if  they  can't  go 
at  all  they  can  surely  find  four  of  their  friends  who  would 
like  to  go."  So  I  brought  over  four,  and  of  course  if  you 
want  more  I  shall  be  glad  to  sell  them  to  you. 

Mus.  T.  (aside).  I  wish  I  had  moral  courage  enough  to 
£avl  \yould  n't  take  her  old  tickets,  but  I  haven't.  (Aloud.) 
FeV,  Mrs.  Kellogg;  of  course  I  shall  be  delighted  to  help 
the  good  cause  along.  You  can  always  depend  on  me  to 
help  in  the  charitable  work.  I  think  four  will  be  suffi- 
cient. That  will  be  two  dollars.  (Pays.) 

MRS.  K.  It  is  such  a  pleasure  to  ask  one  who  gives  as 
cheerfully  as  you  do.  Some  people  seem  to  buy  them  so 
grudgingly.  I  must  run  along  now,  for  I  have  a  number 
more  to  sell.  Good-bye,  dear;  come  over  and  see  me  soon. 


Exit  MRS.  KELLOGG. 

MRS.  T.  "The  "Lord  loves  a  cheerful  giver,"  I  know, 
but  I  must  say  I  didn't  give  that  very  cheerfully  when  I 
realized  it  left  only  ten  dollars  and  sixty-five  cents  in  my 
pocketbook.  Oh,  dear  !  I  don't  believe  I  like  an  allowance 
so  well,  after  all.  I'm  getting  rather  discouraged;  but 
perhaps  it  will  come  out  all  right.  (Knock  at  door.)  I 
just  dread  to  hear  a  knock  at  that  door.  It  makes  the 
cold  shivers  go  all  over  me.  (Opens  door.) 


HER   WEEKLY  ALLOWANCE.  15 

Enter  BOOK  AGENT. 

BOOK  AGENT.  I  have  here,  lady,  something  which 
should  be  in  every  home  —  a  complete  set  of  the  immortal 
bard  Shakespeare's  works.  Just  look  this  volume  over, 
lady  (hands  her  book) ;  see  how  beautifully  it  is  bound ; 
notice  the  excellent  quality  of  paper,  the  good  type,  the 
notes  at  the  bottom  of  each  page. 

MRS.  T.  It  looks  very  good,  but  I  cannot  afford  to  buy 
any  books  at  present. 

BOOK  AGENT.  Madam,  you  cannot  afford  not  to  buy 
them.  How  many  times  do  I  see  charming,  intellectual, 
cultured  young  ladies  like  yourself  who  after  marriage  lose 
all  interest  in  the  higher  things  of  life  and  degenerate  into 
mere  household  drudges,  while  their  husbands  continue  to 
grow  intellectually  until  the  time  comes  when  the  man  is 
ashamed  of  his  wife  and  she  is  kept  entirely  in  the  back- 
ground. How  much  better,  I  say,  if  husband  and  wife 
together,  under  the  cosy  light  of  the  evening  lamp,  should 
read  such  inspiring  words  as  those  of  the  Bard  of  Avon. 
Take,  for  example,  such  passages  as  these  :  "  To  be  or  not 
to  be,  that  is  the  question."  (Gives  Hamlet's  soliloquy  in 
tragical  manner  with  ridiculous  gestures)  Who  is  not  the 
wiser  and  better  for  having  read  such  noble  words  ? 
Madam,  I  repeat,  you  cannot  afford  not  to  buy  them. 

MRS.  T.  I  always  did  say  before  I  was  married  that  I 
should  not  give  up  my  reading  and  let  my  husband  surpass 
me  in  everything. 

BOOK  AGENT.  I  knew,  lady,  by  one  look  into  your  highly 
intellectual  face  that  you  would  appreciate  Shakespeare. 
At  many  places  I  know  instantly  that  to  sell  them  this 
work  would  be  like  casting  pearls  before  swine ;  but  you, 
with  your  cultured  mind,  would  read  and  enjoy. 

MRS.  T.     How  much  is  the  set  ? 

BOOK  AGENT  (aside).  A  little  flattery  works  fine  with 
these  women.  (Aloud)  The  price  is  thirty-five  dollars 
for  the  twenty-four  books  complete,  but  in  order  that  all 
true  lovers  of  Shakespeare  may  have  a  chance  to  enjoy  his 
works,  we  are  selling  the  set  for  two  dollars  down  and  two 
dollars  a  month  until  paid.  Two  dollars  a  month,  fifty 
cents  a  week  —  less  than  the  price  of  a  box  of  choco- 


16  HER    WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE. 

lates — and  still  people  say  they  cannot  afford  to  buy 
them. 

MRS.  T.  I  never  thought  of  it  that  way  before.  Fifty 
cents  a  week  is  very  small.  I  should  never  miss  it  at  all. 
I  —  believe  —  I'll  —  take  —  the  —  set.  Two  dollars  down, 
you  said  ?  (Hands  him  two  dollars.) 

BOOK/AGENT.  Yes,  madam ;  and  our  collector  will  call 
each  week  for  the  fifty  cents.  Good  afternoon. 

Exit  BOOK  AGENT. 

MRS.  T.  Two  dollars  more  gone ;  but  it  gives  such  an 
air  of  distinction  to  have  a  set  of  Shakespeare  in  the  book- 
case. I  wasn't  going  to  let  on  to  k*m  after  ke  thought  I 
had  such  an  intellectual  face  that  I  didn't  care  a  rap  about 
Shakespeare's  works.  Now^he'll  tell  that  horrid  Mrs. 
Fiske,  who  lives  next  door  and  thinks  she  is  so  literary, 
that  1  have  purchased  a  set  of  Shakespeare,  and  perhaps 
she  won't  put  on  so  many  airs  next  time  I  meet  her. 
Think  I'll  sit  down  and  look  them  over  a  few  minutes. 
(Sits  down  and  turns  a  few  pages.)  Oh,  dear !  I  never 
could  read  that  trash  !  I  almost  forgot  to  put  it  down  in 
my  book.  Ten  sixty-five  less  two  is  eight  sixty-five.  Now 
for  some  more  cleaning.  Where  was  I  ?  Oh,  yes,  I'll 
clean  this  picture  and  hang  it  up.  (Begins  cleaning  pic- 
ture. Knock  at  door.)  I  wonder  who  it  is  now.  Come  in. 

Enter  MRS.  BROWN. 

MRS.  BROWN.  How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  Tebbitts  ?  I 
haven't  seen  you  for  an  age ;  and  how  sweet  you  look  with 
that  big  apron  and  that  dear  little  cap ! 

MRS.  T.  Oh,  I  know  I  look  like  a  fright,  but  I  have 
been  so  busy  house-cleaning  !  I've  worked  until  I'm  tired 
enough  to  drop.  Sit  down;  Mrs.  Brown.  I'm  glad  to 
rest  a  few  minutes.  r  ^ 

MRS.  B.  (sitting  down^.  I  mustn't  stop  long.  You 
weren't  out  to  the  last  sewing  circle,  were  you  ?  We  all 
missed  you  awfully.  You  are  always  such  a  great  help. 

MRS.  T.  I  had  company  that  day  and  couldn't  get  out, 
What  did  they  do  ? 


HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  17 

MRS.  B.  Oh,  we  sewed  a  little,  then  we  made  plans  for 
a  turkey  supper,  and  we're  to  solicit  everything  for  the 
tables,  so  we  can  make  lots  of  money. 

MRS.  T.  (aside).     More  money  ! 

MRS.  B.  I  am  collecting  money  to  buy  the  turkeys,  and 
you  knqwvthey  are  awfully  high  now. 

MRS. ''T.'- (aside).  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  give  something, 
but  I  won't  give  more  than  fifty  cents  any  way.  • 

MRS.  B.  Do  you  know,  some  of  the  ladies  I  have  asked 
have  only  given  fifty  cents !  Did  you  ever  hear  of  such 
meanness  ?  I  should  think  anyone  would  be  ashamed  to 
give  less  than  two  dollars  at  the  very  least.  I  know  you 
can  always  be  depended  on  to  give  liberally. 

MRS.  T.  (aside).  I  can't  get  out  of  it  less  than  two  dol- 
lars. (Aloud.)  Here  are  two  dollars,  Mrs.  Brown ;  that 
will  help  a  little.  (_  $vZT  $  ?  jrn*  f**~i*^) 

MRS.  B.  Thank  you  very  much,  Mrs.  Tebbitts.  (Aside.) 
I  thought  sure  she'd  give  five  dollars  after  what  I  said. 
(Aloud.)  We'll  have  the  tickets  out  next  week,  and  I'll 
bring  some  over  for  you  to  buy.  They  are  only  fifty  cents 
apiece,  so  I  know  you  will  want  to  buy  several.  I  have 
got  to  see  all  of  our  church  people  on  the  street  to-day  and 
report  to  the  Chairman  how  much  I  have  collected,  so  I 
must  go  right  along.  Ever  so  much  obliged,  Mrs.  Tebbitts. 
Oh,  I  forgot ;  I  want  you  to  make  a  cake,  too,  for  the  sup- 
per. You  do  make  such  delicious  angel  cake !  You'll 
make  me  a  loaf  of  that,  won't  you  ? 

MRS.  T.     Yes,  I'll  try  to  do  that. 

Exit  MRS.  BROWN. 

It  takes  a  dozen  eggs  to  make  that  angel  cake,  and  they 
are  fifty  cents  a  dozen  at  present.  Two  dollars  for  turkey, 
about  sixty  cents  for  cake,  besides  buying  tickets.  Well, 
I  must  take  two  dollars  more  off  of  my  account,  leaving 
me  only  six  dollars  and  sixty-five  cents.  That  allowance 
is  growing  "  smaller  by  degrees  and  beautifully  less."  I 
just  won't  buy  another  thing  or  give  another  cent  to  any- 
body, and  perhaps  by  letting  some  of  my  bills  run  until 
next  week  I  can  get  along  without  letting  Jack  know  how 
much  I  have  spent.  I  hadn't  finished  cleaning  that  pic- 


18  HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE. 

ture.  (Begins  cleaning  picture,.)  Now  I'll  hang  it 
Even  if  I  have  spent  quite  a  lot  of  money  to-day,  I  have 
surely  earned  a  good  deal  doing  all  this  hard  work. 
Women  who  come  in  to  clean  do  charge  such  dreadful 
prices  and  do  so  little  in  a  day.  (Knock  at  door.) 


Enter  PATENT  MEDICINE  PKDLKR. 

PEDLER.  Madam,  you  are  looking  very  tired  and  worn 
out. 

MRS.  T.     I  do  feel  rather  tired  just  now. 

PED.  Yes,  madam,  your  face  shows  that  you  are  tired, 
that  you  are  on  the  verge  of  nervous  prostration.  Your 
zeal  as  a  housekeeper  and  homemaker  is  greater  than  your 
strength,  and  already  the  lines  of  age  are  creeping  around 
your  eyes  and  mouth. 

MRS.  T.  Oh,  -horrors  !  ido  I  begin  to  look  old  already  ! 
(Looks  in  glass.)  I  believe  I'll  never  try  to  clean  house 
again. 

PED.  There  is  no  need  of  your  looking  old  or  of  giving 
up  your  work  if  you  will  only  fortify  yourself  by  taking 
this  wonderful  elixir.  It  not  only  guards  against  the  rav- 
ages of  time,  but  in  cases  of  lost  youthfulness  actually 
restores  it.  Madam,  by  that  hectic  flush  on  your  cheeks  I 
fear  you  will  fill  a  premature  grave  unless  you  at  once 
take  steps  to  prevent  it. 

MRS.  T.  Oh,  dear,  then  Jack  will  get  married  again, 
and  the  horrid  creature  will  have  all  my  things  !  I  just 
won't  give  her  a  chance,  allowance  or  no  allowance.  How 
much  is  your  wonderful  medicine,  and  are  you  sure  it  will 
save  my  life  ? 

PED.  There  is  no  doubt  of  it  whatever,  madam.  A 
teaspoomful  taken  three  times  a  day  will  work  wonders  in 
a  very  short  time,  and  you  will  be  restored  to  perfect 
health  and  beauty.  The  price,  madam,  which  is  a  very 
small  consideration,  considering  its  great  curative  and  resto- 
rative properties,  is  but  two  dollars  a  bottle  —  a  mere 
nothing. 

MRS.  T.  Well,  it's  a  mere  something  to  me  when  I  have 
only  six  dollars  and  sixty-five  cents  left;  but  this  is  a 
positive  necessity,  so  I  will  take  a  bottle.  (Goes  to  get 
pocketbook.) 

-""  !    •     *Wi 


:  " 

HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  19 

PED.  (aside).  What  gulls  these  women  are!  She  looks 
as  strong  and  healthy  as  they  make  them.  Arousing  a 
little  jealousy  does  great  things  in  selling  my  goods — a 
little  water,  highly  colored.  They  do  say  folks  don't  drink 
enough  water,  so  perhaps  it's  just  what  she  needs. 

MRS.  T.     Here's  the  two  dollars. 

PED.  Thank  you,  madam.  Remember,  a  teaspoonful 
three  times  a  day ;  not  any  more,  for  it  is  very  powerful 
stuff.  t\^U 

Exit  MEDICINE  PEDLER. 

MRS.  T.  (writing  in  book).  Four  dollars  and  sixty-five 
cents  left.  But  what  is  money  compared  with  health  ? 
I'll  take  a  teaspoonful  now  and  perhaps  it  will  rest  me 
and  take  some  of  those  old  age  lines  out  before  Jack  gets 
home  and  sees  them.  (Takes  medicine.)  Horrid  tasting 
stuff !  But  no  matter,  if  it  will  keep  me  from  growing  old. 
(Knock  at  door.)  Did  you  ever  know  of  so  many  people 
coming  to  a  house  in  one  day  ?  Come  in,  whoever  you 
are. 

Enter  AGENT  with  chair. 

AGENT.      Just   in   time,    l&dy.     I    see   you're   cleaning 
house.     Now,  of  course,   you   will  want    something   new. 
What's   the   use   of  cleaning   house   if   you  have  nothing 
new  ?     Nobody  knows  you've  cleaned  it.     Here's  this  ele-  A  .  *. 
gant  new  style  rocker,  just  right  for  this  corner.     Fills  inM  ' 
there  slick  as  a  whistle.     Isn't  it  a  beauty,  lady  ?     Ever 
see    anything    handsomer  ?     Just    examine    it ;    nothing 
shoddy  about  it ;  solid  oak  ;  finest  quality  of  tapestry  up- 
holstering.    Just  stand  right  here,  madam,  and  get  the 
effect.     Charming,  isn't  it  ? 

MRS.  T.  Yes,  it's  very  pretty,  and  I'd  like  to  have  it. 
I've  always  wanted  that  kind  of  a  chair  for  that  corner; 
but  it's  no  use  talking  to  me  to-day.  I've  had  pedlers 
here  all  the  morning,  and  I'm  not  going  to  spend  another 
cent ;  and  anyway  I  haven't  money  enough  left  to  buy  it 
if  I  wanted  it  ever  so  bad. 

AGENT.  That's  just  what  that  woman  who  lives  next 
door  said.  She  said  your  rooms  looked  rather  bare,  and 
what  you  had  was  cheap,  and  you  really  needed  a  few  good 


WEEKLY    ALLOWANCE. 

chairs  ;  but  she  didn't  believe  you  could  afford  to  buy 
such  a  nice  one  as  this.  I  presume  she  is  watching  out  of 
her  window  now  to  see  if  I  take  it  out  again. 

MRS.  T.  She  is  watching  out  of  her  window  at  other 
folks'  affairs  most  of  the  time.  Said  I  couldn't  afford  it, 
did  she  ?  Well,  I'd  just  like  to  let  her  see  I  could  afford 
it  (looks  in  pocketbook),  but  I  have  only  four  dollars  and 
sixty-five  cents  left,  and  the  week's  provisions  to  buy  out 
of  that,  so  it's  no  juse  to-  think  of  it. 

AGENT.  "I  just  hate  to  let  that  woman  see  me  take  this 
chair  out,  for  I  know  she'll  be  right  in  to  tell  you  how 
sorry  she  was  you  couldn't  afford  to  buy  it ;  so  to  help 
you* out  I  am  going  to  break  a  very  strict  rule  of  the  com- 
pany, and  I  don't  know  but  I  will  lose  my  position  by 
doing  so.  We  have  strict  orders  to  sell  nothing  except  for 
spot  cash,  but  I  will  allow  you  to  keep  this  chair  on  pay- 
ment of  only  four  dollars,  and  I  will  come  around  quietly 
after  dark  once  a  week  and  collect  a  few  dollars  until  the 
total  amount  of  twenty-five  dollars  is  paid,  and  that  woman 
next  door  won't  know  but  you  paid  it  all  now. 

MRS.  T.  (hesitating).  I  know  I  ought  not  to  spend  the 
money  for  it  now,  but  I  really  do  need  it  very  much,  and 
it  will  just  make  that  woman  green  with  envy.  You  may 
leave  it,  and  here's  your  four  dollars. 

AGENT.  I'll  come  next  Wednesday  evening  for  the  next 
payment. 

Exit  CHAIR  AGENT. 

MRS.  T.  (writing  in  book).  All  gone  but  sixty-five  cents  \ 
Whatever  shall  I  tell  Jack  \  Oh,  I  am  so  sick  of  house- 
cleaning  \  (Knock.  BLIND  MAN  gropes  his  way  in.) 

MRS.  T.     Oh,  you  poor  man!     Are  you  blind? 

PED.  Yes,  kind  lady ;  I  have  been  blind  now  for  ten 
years.  My  eyesight  had  been  very  good,  when  all  at  once 
the  darkness  of  night  fell  upon  me. 

MRS.  T.  And  to  think  the  same  thing  would  have  hap- 
pened to  both  myself  and  Jack  if  that  kind-hearted  man 
hadn't  come  and  told  me  about  it  this  morning.  We  might 
even  have  had  to  go  around  selling  things  like  this.  I 
cannot  turn  you  away,  though  I  have  very  little  money 
left  myself.  What  have  you  to  sell  ? 


HER    WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  21 

PED.  (showing  paper  and  pencils).  I  have  some  excel- 
lent paper  and  some  red,  black  and  blue  pencils.  These 
blue  pencils  (holding  up)  are  two  cents,  these  red  ones 
(looking  in  bag  and  holding  up)  are  three  cents,  and  the 
black  ones  (holding  up)  are  five  cents. 

MRS.  T.  But  how  do  you  know  the  color  if  you  can't 
see  anything  ? 

PED.  (aside).  I  came  pretty  near  getting  caught  that 
time.  I  must  look  out.  (Aloud.)  Kind  lady,  you  know 
'the  touch  o£  the  blind  is  very  sensitive,  and  by  simply 
touching  any  of  these  pencils  I  can  tell  the  color. 

MRS.  T.  I  have  always  heard  the  blind  had  a  very 
sensitive  touch.  I  don't  need  any  paper  or  pencils,  but  I 
feel  I  must  help  you  a  little,  so  you  may  give  me  fifty 
cents'  worth  of  something.  I  would  give  you  the  money 
without  taking  anything,  but  I  have  heard  that  was  not  a 
wise  thing  to  do,  and  I  want  to  show  wisdom  in  my  chari- 
table work.  A^M^HvUuv Ifott^WbA**! 

PED.  (handing  a  few  sheets  of  paper  and  couple  of  yen- 
cils).  Yes,  kind  lady;  I  ask  no  charity  in  my  misfortune 
if  people  will  only  buy.  (Aside.)  And  pay  fifty  cents  for 
three  cents'  worth.  (MRS.  TEBBTTTS  gives  him  fifty  cents.) 
Bless  you,  for  a  kind-hearted  lady,  and  I  wish  there  were 
more  in  the  world  like  you.  (Aside.)  That  I  could  work 
as  easy. 

Exit  BLIND  PEDLER. 

.  MRS.  T.  I  wonder  what  he  said  as  he  went  out ;  seemed 
to  be  muttering  something.  Fifteen  cents  left  and  nothing 
in  the  house  for  supper  !  What  shall  I  do  ?  I  know ;  I'll 
buy  a  can  of  salmon  and  I  have  a  little  lettuce  and  salad 
dressing ;  so  I  can  make  a  salmon  salad.  (Knock  at  door.) 

Enter  ARMENIAN  WOMAN  PEDLER,  basket  on  arm. 

ARMENIAN.  Oh,  lady,  please  bu}7 !  I  have  sick  hus- 
band and  seven  small  child ers.  No  bread  give  them. 
They  starve  if  you  no  buy.  (  Uncovers  basket  and  holds  up 
various  articles.)  Pretty  lace,  cheap,  so  cheap,  ten  cents ; 
pins,  needles.  Buy,  lady,  please  buy.  Just  little,  get 
bread,  take  home. 


22  HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE. 

MRS.  T.  I  can't  let  this  poor  creature  starve.  Here,  I 
have  just  fifteen  cents  left;  take  it  and  buy  your  children 
some  bread.  I  guess  we'll  have  to  go  hungry  ourselves, 
though. 

ARM.  Thank;  much  thank.  (T<x/ces  out  pockeiboolt ; 
opens  to  put  in  fifteen  cents,  showing  it  full.) 

Exit  ARMENIAN  WOMAN. 

MRS.  T.  Why,  her  pocketbook  was  full  of  money ! 
Guess  I  needed  that  fifteen  cents  more  than  she  did,  after 
all.  I  believe  she  was  a  fraud ;  and  we  can't  even  have  a 
salmon  salad  for  supper.  (Knock  at  door.)  Do  you  sup- 
pose that  can  be  another  pedler  ?  Come  in. 

Enter  MAN  with  rug  over  arm. 

P.ED.  Madam,  can  I  sell  you  a  fine  rug?  Very  hand- 
.'some.  ' 

MRS.  T.  No,  you  can't  sell  me  anything.  There's  my 
pocketbook  (opens  it),  and  you  see  there  isn't  a  cent  in  it, 
and  I  had  thirty-five  dollars  this  morning;  but  you  pesky 
pedlers  and  beggars  have  got  every  cent  of  it. 

FED.  I'll  sell  it  to  you  just  the  same.  You  look  and 
see  if  you  have  any  old  pants,  coats  or  boots  of  your  hus- 
band's and  I'll  give  you  a  nice  rug  for  them. 

MRS.  T.  No;  I've  spent  every  cent  I  had,  but  I'm  not 
going  to  begin  selling  our  clothes.  It's  no  use  for  you  to 
talk  to  me ;  even  a  worm  will  turn  at  last. 

FED.     You  are  missing  a  great  opportunity,  lady. 

MRS.  T.  Yes ;  and  I  wish  I  had  missed  a  good  many 
more  of  them  to-day. 

Exit  PEDLER. 

I  think  I'd  better  see  how  I  stand  on  my  account.  (Reads) 
Paid  for  one  can  cleansing  fluid,  warranted  to  spoil  any- 
thing it  touches,  three  dollars ;  eleven  bottles  lemon  ex- 
tract, three  dollars  and -eighty-five  cents  ;  on  account  piano, 
five  dollars ;  subscription  to  magazine,  three  dollars ;  one 
bushel  rotten  apples,  two  dollars ;  glasses,  four  dollars  and 


HER   WEEKLY   ALLOWANCE.  23 

fifty  cents;  soap,  one  dollar;  tickets,  two  dollars;  on  ac- 
count Shakespeare's  works,  two  dollars  ;  turkey  supper, 
two  dollars ;  medicine,  two  dollars ;  on  account  chair,  four 
dollars  ;  paper  and  pencils,  fifty  cents ;  Armenian,  fifteen 
cents ;  total,  thirty-five  dollars.  Balance  due  on  piano, 
seven  hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars ;  on  chair,  twenty- 
one  dollars;  on  books,  thirty-three  dollars;  total,  eight 
hundred  and  forty-nine  dollars.  I  have  spent  my  week's 
allowance  of  thirty-five  dollars  and  am  eight  hundred  and 
forty-nine  dollars  in  debt,  all  in  one  day  !  What  will  Jack 
say  ?  There,  he's  ringing  the  bell  now,  and  no  supper 
ready,  and  such  a  looking  house  !  I'm  afraid  he  won't  be 
a  convert  to  the  allowance  plan.  I  don't  know  whether  to 
let  him  in  or  run  and  hide. 

CUETAIK 


,  50 


TUP  MAfilCTDATU    Farce  In  Three  Acts.    Twelve  males,  four 
HE  ITIAUKMKAIX  Costumes>  modern. 


interior.    Plays  two  hours  and  a  half. 

THE  NOTORIOUS  MRS.  EBBSMITP 

Costumes,  modern  ;  scenery,  all  interiors     PI-  ys  a,  tull  evening. 

THF  PRftFI  Hi  ATP    PlayinFourAcis    oev en  males,  five  females. 
U    Scenery,  three  interiors,  rather  elaborate  ; 
costumes,  modern.     Plays  a  full  evening. 

THF  SCHOftI  MISTRFSS    ^arce  *u  Tliree  Acts.  Nine  males,  seven 
females:  Costumes,  modern  ;  scenery, 
t^iree  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

THE  SECOND  MRS.  TANQUERAY  Pla,y  in/our  Acf  ™ght 

nitllCS      D.V6    ICHIHJCS.       (JOS- 

tumes,  modern  ;  scenery,  three  interiors.    Plays  a  full  evening. 

SWEET  LAVENDER    Comedy  In  Tliree  Acts.    Seven  males,  four 
^  females.    Scene,  a  single  interior;  costumes, 

modern.     Plays  a  full  evening. 

THE  TIMES    Comedy  ^  Four  Acts.    Six  males,  seven,  females. 
Scene,  a  single  interior;  costumes,  modern.     Plays  a 
full  evening. 

THF  WFAKFB  SPY    Comedy  in  Three  Acts.    Eight  males,  eight 
UL    ITlWmUl  JL.A    femaleg     costumes,  modern;  scenery,  tNsro 
interiors.    Plays  a  fult  evening. 

A  WIFE  WITHOUT  A  SMILE  ^^0Sf^SL 

modern  ;  scene,  a  single  interior.     Plays  a  full  evening 


Sent  prepaid  on  receipt  of  price  by 

falter  &  Rafter  &  Company 

No.  5  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Massachusetts 


^tlitam  barren  Ctutton 
of 

,  15 


Yftll   I  IKF   IT    Comply  iu  l'ive  Aots.     Thirteen   n 
l.UU   MIVlw  11    feu.  ,,;,.( la-HMjii,. 

.     Plays  a  lull  evening. 


CAMH  I  F     l>ra;"a  i"   ^  Nino  iii.-'U-s,  ll\>-  fcmal. 

v^ililll^LfLi    tuitu'^   modern  :  sceiiery,  TarieU.    1'laysafull 


--     iu  riurteeii    risalt-^,    lliv.- 

Scenery  A  r.nr-s,Ureek.    J'ia-- 


MAPV    \T1IART     Tri  •••-oActs.      Tliirteen  in;.- 

iTlAIVi    jJlUrt.l%l      ]:  .,(  tin- 

•'.ite.      .I'litys  a  1  u  II  even 


Tllli  MERCHANT  OF  VENICE  ' 


. 

pit-Mil  '.'-TV  varied.  •'•  I 


I'iv 

,,;  ,-,i,l 

'•  i  I  .!,'. 

THF    ttiiV4I^  Five   Act--..     Nine  males,  !;• 

IlL  fli  T  ^L. 

SHF   STftOPS  TO  fft\ftl!FH     Comedy  in   Fiv(    Acts.     ¥  : 
JllC   ^IVUrj    IU  VlWytLA     Hides,  loi 

ried  ;  <x>3tuujes  of  the  period.. 


TWELFTH  NIGHT:  OR,  WHAT  YOU  WILL  S^..!"u±". 

tkree 


Sent  prepaid  on  receipt  of  price  by 

falter  l^>  I3afeer  &  Company 

No.  $  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Massachusetts 

».   «.    PARKHiki.  *   00.,     PR1HTCRC,     BOSTON,    y.S-A 


Manufacture  J  h 

©AYLORD  BROS.  In.. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  CaW. 


